Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman today voiced his support for fired Watterson High School teacher Carla Hale. The 57-year old physical education teacher says she was fired from the Catholic high school school because she is in a same sex relationship.

Outside Boston University's Marsh Chapel Wednesday, friends gathered to remember graduate student Lingzi Lu. She was one of the three people killed in Monday's bombings at the Boston Marathon.

1:07PM

April18, 2013

Clues are still being sifted â€” most notably, perhaps, from video that shows a man setting down a bag and leaving the scene. No arrests have been made. Thursday morning, President Obama is at an interfaith service in Boston where the victims will be remembered.

Remains of a fertilizer plant in West, Texas, were still burning early Thursday after an explosion there Wednesday evening.

12:13PM

April18, 2013

As the day dawned, officials said an estimated 5 to 15 people were killed and more than 160 were wounded. It was feared those numbers might go higher. The cause of the fire that led to the explosion at a plant near Waco is under investigation.

Students walk on Ohio State University's Oval, which is now a walk zone.

11:20AM

April18, 2013

The Oval at Ohio State University is now designated as a â€œwalk zone.â€ That means only pedestrians can cross the Oval; riding bicycles or skateboards is prohibited. The new rule took effect Wednesday.

Carla Hale said she was fired from Bishop Watterson High School because she is gay. Hale worked at the school as a health and physical education teacher for nearly 20 years.

6:26AM

April18, 2013

City officials say the Columbus Diocese could have violated a Columbus ordinance that protects employees from discrimination when it fired a gay teacher for her sexuality. WOSU reports city law does not exempt religious employers from discriminatory practices.

A possible take-over of the Columbus City Schools has galvanized opposition. A group called the Ohio Organizing Collaborative says it will lobby, protest, and possibly litigate to keep a school board elected by district voters.

Prospective Ohio drivers would see added training requirements and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles would be allowed to accept credit and debit cards under a state transportation budget that easily cleared the Ohio House on Tuesday.